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Case Reports
. 2016 Jan;57(1):36-9.
doi: 10.1111/jsap.12377. Epub 2015 Jun 4.

Cerebral pyogranuloma associated with systemic coronavirus infection in a ferret

K Gnirs  1 , J F Quinton  1 , C Dally  2 , A Nicolier  3 , Y Ruel  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Cerebral pyogranuloma associated with systemic coronavirus infection in a ferret

K Gnirs et al. J Small Anim Pract. 2016 Jan.

Abstract

A 2-year-old male ferret was presented with central nervous system signs. Computed tomography (CT) of the brain revealed a well-defined contrast-enhancing lesion on the rostral forebrain that appeared extraparenchymal. Surgical excision of the mass was performed and the ferret was euthanised during the procedure. Histopathology of the excised mass showed multiple meningeal nodular lesions with infiltrates of epithelioid macrophages, occasionally centred on degenerated neutrophils and surrounded by a broad rim of plasma cells, features consistent with pyogranulomatous meningitis. The histopathological features in this ferret were similar to those in cats with feline infectious peritonitis. Definitive diagnosis was assessed by immunohistochemistry, confirming a ferret systemic coronavirus (FSCV) associated disease. This is the first case of coronavirus granuloma described on CT-scan in the central nervous system of a ferret.

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Conflict of interest statement

None of the authors of this article has a financial or personal relationship with other people or organisations that could inappropriately influence or bias the content of the paper.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
CT‐examination of the head (120 kVp, 100 mA, slice thickness 0 · 5 mm, FOV 180). Transverse (a1, a2), sagittal (b1, b2) and dorsal (c1, c2) reconstructions displayed with a soft tissue window show an isodense pre‐contrast area with a strong post‐contrast enhancement (arrows) in the dorsal part of the right and left forebrain. The lesion shows a wide basis with a large osseous contact. No underlying bone lysis or sclerosis is observed (d1, d2: transverse and sagittal reconstructions displayed with a bone window)
Figure 2
Figure 2
Photomicrograph of the meningeal biopsy. The meninges are diffusely and severely thickened by a densely cellular inflammatory infiltrate. H&E stain; bar = 500 µ
Figure 3
Figure 3
Photomicrograph of the meningeal biopsy. Pyogranulomatous foci with a necrotic centre (asterisk) containing a few neutrophils and surrounded by macrophages. H&E stain; bar = 100 µ
Figure 4
Figure 4
Immunohistochemistry showing intracytoplasmic staining for coronavirus antigen within granulomatous lesions. Streptavidin‐biotin stain; bar = 100 µ
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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